UPDATE – Justin Combs Scholarship – Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is getting some support from UCLA after his son Justin Combs was bashed for receiving a full $54K scholarship from the university. This is when a father should be proud, not only because his first born son, Justin Combs, graduated high school and is on his way to college but also because he earned a 3.75 GPA, a full merit-based scholarship to UCLA and a spot on their football team.
The hip hop mogul who Forbes estimated is worth $500 million must temper his excitement however, after critics are crying foul over a multi-millionaire’s son receiving a full scholarship.
Dennis Romero of LA Weekly states, “The son of a guy worth nearly half a billion dollars” doesn’t need a free ride to college, especially to “a school where student tuition and fees have nearly tripled in the last 10 years.” I mean, this is a kid who poses in front of “a $300,000-plus Maybach,” likely the car his dad got him on his 16th birthday. Now that’s “a free ride that could pay for half dozen full-ride scholarships to UCLA.”
Some critics are on the fence,
Amber Doty at Babble says, “I have to say, “my knee jerk reaction was that the Combs’ and families like them should absolutely refuse the scholarship.” It’s inarguable that some other kid could use the $54,000 scholarship more than Justin Combs. But in the end, it’s his scholarship to keep or give up, and I’m “not sure what the right or wrong answer is.”
It is without question Justin EARNED his scholarship and has every right to keep it. UCLA also jumped in the fray and defended their actions,
“Athletic scholarships, such as those awarded to football or basketball players, do not rely on state funds. Instead, these scholarships are entirely funded through UCLA Athletics ticket sales, corporate partnerships, media contracts and private donations from supporters.”
“Each year, UCLA awards the equivalent of approximately 285 full athletic scholarships to outstanding student-athletes. The scholarships are used by the UCLA Department of Intercollegiate Athletics to pay students’ tuition and fees, as well as room and board. In this respect, UCLA is no different from the overwhelming majority of Division I institutions.”
Read between the lines – the son a wealthy hip hop mogul equals big money.
What’s your say – should Diddy’s son return the scholarship?
